Safety-stirrup.



N. .S. HENSLEY.

SAFETY STIRBUP. APPLICATION mum my a, 1914.

1 ,1 22,%%. I Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

wafllenazegr YHE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOT0-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C

NOBLE SMITH,I-VILE1\ISLEY,MOF HARLAN, nmv'rnciiv, nssrenqn OFONE-EALFEO eniarnnnn n. naimfor I-IARLAN country, KENTUCKY? sArnrr-sr nnur.

@pec i fication of Letters Patent.

.ltate msfl i s r sale- Application filed May 8, 1914. ,ssfilial No.837,174;.

To all whom it may concern Be itlmown that I, NOBLE SMITI'LHENS LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harlan, in the county of Harlan and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Safety- Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stirrups such as are commonly used in connection with riding saddles and has special reference to a safety stirrup.

The principal object of this invention is to improve and simplify the general construction of devices ofthis character.

A second object of the invention is to provide a safety stirrup having a movable foot which, after release, returns to substantially working or normal position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consistsv ingeneral of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed. p

In the accompanying drawings, lilre'characters of reference indicate like parts in the 2 several views, and Figure 1 is a rear elevation partly in section of a device constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such a stirrup with the foot plate shown in normal position in full lines and in position to be moved out of normal position and into released position in dash and dot lines. Fig. 3 is a section through the deviceshowing the foot plate in complete released position. Fig. i is a detail perspective of one end of a foot plate. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section through the foot plate and a portion of one of the sides of the body of the stirrup.

In carrying out the objects of this invention there is provided an upper-casting or molding indicated in general at A. This upper casting or molding comprises the transverse hanger member 10 and the side members 11. Each of these side members has formed integraltherewith a spring passage 12 and the lower ends of these side members are bifurcated as at 13. The inner sides of these bifurcations diverge from each trunnion 16 resting in the opening 14. This trunnion is of such dimension that normally 1tw1ll be held from passing out of the openmg 17 between the opening 14 and the bifurcation 13. However when the treadle member 15 is tilted to a proper degree the trunnion rotates through such an angle that it may slip through the opening 17 and thus the foot member 15 be depressed. In order to hold the foot member normally raised the trunnions are each provided with an opening 18 wl'ierethrough passes an eye 19 having the lower end of a spring 20 secured thereto. The upper end of this spring, the spring passing into the pocket 19. is passed through an opening 21in the top of said pocket and is there riveted over, as at 29..

The normal position of the foot member is shown in Fig. 2. In case of accident the foot of the user tilts this member until it assumes a position approximately that shown in the dash and dot lines in said figure, whereupon the trunnions slip throughthe openings 17 and the member is depressed to assumethe position shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the foot slips off of the member and is released then the springs retract the memher and it either passes back to its normal position or, it engages the incline sides 11 in such manner that the trunnions rest against the sides of the bifurcations 13. If the latter is the case the rider simply grabs the foot member in his hand and tilts it slightly until it slips back into its normal position and the device is again ready for use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In, a stirrup, a body member comprising a top and sides, a foot member normally carried by said sides and arranged for re lease therefrom when tilted to a predetermined position, and spring means connecting said sides and foot member to return the same to normal position after release.

Ina stirrup, a body member comprising a top and sides having open mouthed trunnion engaging openings, a foot member provided with flat trunnions normally engaged in said openings and adapted for release therefrom when the foot member is tilted to a predetermined position, and spring means connecting said sides and foot member to return the same to normal position after release.

3. In a stirrup, ab'ody member comprissides and foot member to return the same to 1) ing a top and sides having flaring bifurcanormal position after release.

tions at their lower ends terminating in- In testimony whereof I affix my signa- Wardly in circular openings open downture in presence of two Witnesses.

9 Wardly, foot member provided with seg- NOBLE SMITH HENSLEY mental trunnions normally engaging said openings and releasable therefrom when the Witnesses: foot member is tilted to a predetermined p0- GEO. H. SNYDER, sition, and spring means connecting said CHARLES DE WET'I. HOWARD.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' i Washington, D. C. 

